John the Baptist's message regarding salvation called Israel to repent and be baptized in preparation for the coming King and His Kingdom.
Les Feldick teaches that John's ministry was only to the covenant people of Israel, and the 'baptism of repentance' was how they were to show saving faith; the two could not be separated. Their repentance concerned their failure under the system of Law and prepared their hearts and minds for the coming King.
Acts 2:38 — Peter's command to 'repent and be baptized' uses the exact language John the Baptist preached first, showing what was required of Israel at that time.
Isaiah 40:3 — The Old Testament prophecy of the voice crying in the wilderness that John the Baptist fulfilled in preparing Israel for the Lord.
Isaiah 40:3 announces the voice crying in the wilderness: 'Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.' Matthew 3:6 records that those who came to John at the Jordan 'were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.' Later, in Acts 2:36, Peter declared to the house of Israel, 'Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.' When Israel asked what they should do, Acts 2:38 records Peter's answer: 'Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.'
Les Feldick teaches that John the Baptist's ministry was directed exclusively to the covenant people of Israel — he had no ministry to Gentiles (Clip 2). John came on the scene as the herald of the King, and his message was 'repent and be baptized' (Clip 6). Les explains that this was the 'baptism of repentance' — if Israel was going to show saving faith in the fact that the King and His Kingdom were there, they had to show it with the baptism of repentance. The two could not be separated (Clip 1). Israel was repenting of their failure under the system of Law and thereby preparing their hearts and minds for the King and His Kingdom (Clip 1). Les also notes that the baptism of repentance was natural to the Jew because the Old Testament concept of washing pointed to it (Clip 5). He connects John's message directly to Peter's words in Acts 2:36-38 — the identical 'repent and be baptized' requirement, first preached by John. Every Jew living at that time would have had to come to a salvation experience through that repentance and water baptism, and then Christ could have returned and given the kingdom of Israel (Clips 4, 6, 7). Les further notes that Israel was under the Law during all of Christ's earthly ministry, with the temple in operation (Clip 7).
Les Feldick points out that John the Baptist did not have a ministry to Gentiles — he had a ministry only to the covenant people of Israel. They were to repent and be baptized in preparation for the coming of their King, so that they in turn could be a nation of priests to take the knowledge of their God to the pagan Gentiles.
Les Feldick teaches that John's baptism was called the baptism of repentance. If Israel was going to show saving faith in the fact that the King and the Kingdom were there, they had to show it with the baptism of repentance — the two could not be separated. As these Jews repented of their failure of the system of Law, they were preparing their hearts and minds for the King and His Kingdom.
Les Feldick notes that the baptism of repentance as proclaimed by John the Baptist was natural to the Jew. He recalls asking a fellow deacon whether there was any hint of baptism before the New Testament, and the answer was that the Old Testament was full of the concept of washing — 'it was all back there in the Old Testament.' So John's call to be baptized was not a foreign idea to Israel.
Les Feldick stresses that Peter's 'repent and be baptized' command was directed to the house of Israel and meant every Jew living at that time. Both in Acts 2 and in John the Baptist's ministry, the message was the same: Israel needed to come to a salvation experience through repentance and water baptism. If every Jew had been converted and accepted Christ as the Messiah, Christ could have returned and set up the kingdom.
Justified by Faith Alone — What Romans 4 Really Teaches
Him and nailed Him by virtue of the Roman army to a cross, what did He become? He became the Savior, not of Israel alone, but the whole human race. And this is what we're trying to be shown here, that Abraham entered in by faith and faith alone based on what God said to him, and that was what? Leave Ur. It's just that simple. Leave Ur, and I'll show you a place where I want you to go.
Baptism of Repentance and Saving Faith
Les explains that John's message was the baptism of repentance — saving faith in the King and Kingdom had to be shown through water baptism, and the two could not be separated.
A Ministry to Israel Only
Les emphasizes that John the Baptist's ministry was only to the covenant people of Israel, calling them to repent and be baptized in preparation for the coming King.
Preparing the Way of the Lord
Les quotes the prophetic voice crying in the wilderness and notes that baptism itself is a subject of controversy in Christianity.
Repent and Be Baptized — Tied to John
Les ties Peter's 'repent and be baptized' command in Acts 2:38 directly back to John the Baptist — the same message to the house of Israel.
Baptism Natural to the Jew
Les notes that John's baptism of repentance was natural to the Jew because the Old Testament concept of washing pointed to baptism.
John as Herald of the King
Les recounts that John the Baptist preached 'repent and be baptized' first as the herald of the King, and every Jew would need to be converted.
Salvation via Repentance and Water Baptism
Les explains that every Jew at that time needed a salvation experience through repentance and water baptism before Christ could return to set up the kingdom.
Isaiah 40:3: The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
This prophecy describes John the Baptist's role as the forerunner preparing Israel for the coming of the Lord.
Matthew 3:6: And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.
Records Israel's response to John's baptism — coming to the Jordan and confessing their sins.
Acts 2:36: Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
Peter's declaration to the house of Israel that sets up the command to repent and be baptized.
Acts 2:38: Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
The exact 'repent and be baptized' language that Les identifies as having first been preached by John the Baptist.
The core was 'repent and be baptized.' Les Feldick calls it the baptism of repentance — saving faith in the King and Kingdom had to be shown with that baptism; the two could not be separated (Clip 1).
No. Les teaches that John's ministry was only to the covenant people of Israel. They were to repent and be baptized to prepare for the coming King and to be a nation of priests (Clip 2).
No. Les notes that the baptism of repentance was natural to the Jew — the Old Testament was full of the idea of washing, so it was not something new (Clip 5).
It is the same message. Les points out that Peter's 'repent and be baptized' command to the house of Israel was the same language John the Baptist preached first. Every Jew needed a salvation experience through repentance and water baptism (Clips 4, 6, 7).
Watch the Teaching: Justified by Faith Alone — What Romans 4 Really Teaches